VLADIVOSTOK, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. oil embargo against Venezuela threatens the lives, health and well-being of millions of the country's citizens and must be condemned as a violation of international law, Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov told RIA Novosti on Friday.
"The unlawful actions of the United States must be condemned. This is not only about oil. Oil is the lifeblood of the Venezuelan economy and draining it means putting the lives and health of millions of Venezuelan citizens at risk," he said.
Furthermore, Melik-Bagdasarov noted that Venezuela is ready to sell oil to all partners, including the United States, but Washington's harsh and neocolonial rhetoric is impeding the normalization of supplies to the global market.
Russia has previously voiced its resolute solidarity with Venezuela and urged the liberation of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, emphasizing that the actions of the United States violate international law. ■
